What to know about Syria's main Kurdish-led force and its deal with Damascus after days of clashes

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are set to merge into the Syrian army after suffering major setbacks. Over the weekend, Syrian government forces captured areas under the SDF's control in the northeast following deadly clashes. The SDF, once a key force against the Islamic State and ruled over nearly quaretr od Syria, now only controls the province of Hassakeh. On Sunday, Syria's government announced a new ceasefire with the SDF. According to the new agreement, SDF fighters will merge into the national army and police forces as individuals. Last week, the Kurdish language was made official, and the Kurdish new year is now a national holiday.